Paul Merton joins the cast of Hairspray at the London Coliseum

Paul Merton is to play Wilbur Turnblad alongside Michael Ball who is returning to his Olivier Award-winning role as Edna Turnblad in the revival of Hairspray the musical at the London Coliseum this April.

One of the UK's greatest comedians and star of Have I Got News For You, Paul Merton joins Michael Ball (Edna), Lizzie Bea (Tracy), Marisha Wallace (Motormouth), Rita Simons (Velma Von Tussle) and Jonny Amies (Link Larkin).

The full company includes Georgia Anderson, Kimani Arthur, Dermot Canavan, Lori Haley Fox, Mari McGinlay, Ashley Samuels, Michael Vinsen and Imogen Bailey, Pearce Barron, Jordan Benjamin, Nicholas Collier, Joel Cooper, Luke George, Christopher Gopaul, Winny Herbert, Chris Howell, Lily Laight, Hannah Grace Lawson, Madeleine Lawton, Holly Liburd, Will Luckett, Mireia Mambo, Kody Mortimer, Robyn Rose, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, Kibong Tanji, Amy West and Natalie Woods.

Baltimore, 1962. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and big dreams. Can she make it on the local TV dance show, win the heart of teen heartthrob Link Larkin and bring everyone together – whatever their colour, size or hairdo? Well if you want a change, you’ve really got to shake things up!

This eagerly anticipated revival of Hairspray brings together the original Broadway and West End creative team of Director Jack O'Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

The original New York production of Hairspray won three Tony Awards, including Best New Musical, whilst the original West End production won four Olivier Awards, also including Best New Musical, as well giving Michael Ball one of his two Olivier Awards for Best Actor in a Musical. Hairspray runs at the London Coliseum from 23 April 2020 for eighteen weeks only. BOOK TICKETS FOR HAIRSPRAY Please note that the West End revival of Hairspray and the UK Tour of Hairspray are different productions featuring different casts.